OIL FUEL

Evening Star, Issue 23496, 9 February 1940, Page 6

OIL FUEL

BREACH OF REGULATIONS SERVICE STATION PROPRIETORS FINED (Per United Press Association.] WELLINGTON, February 9. Charged with a breach of the oil fuel regulations,, Norman Francis Aberhart, a service station proprietor, did not appear in court when his name was called. Counsel said his client was pleading guilty. The Magistrate said the defendant hadl to appear, and gave him half an hour to attend, refusing to grant a remand till the afternoon. The defendant obeyed the summons in the time given and pleaded guilty. The prosecution stated that mu inspection of the service station in November disclosed that there was a deficiency of 181 gallons for which the defendant could not account. At the end of the .month the deficiency amounted to 110 gallons. Counsel submitted that the breach was a technical one, and stressed that the defendant was one of those who had suddenly undtertaken duties amounting practically to those of an accountant without having had previous qualifications and training. The Magistrate concurred in this view- “ This is a sudden duty imposed by the Government owing to the war,” he said, “ and it may take some time for garages to get the machinery ready to deal with the matter.” A fine of £2 and costs was imposed. Matthew Ellis faced three charges—one in regard to the disposal of fuel and the other two in regard to the supply of schedules. He was fined) £2 and costs on the first charge and £1 and costs on the other two. Counsel submitted that the last two charges were trivial. The shortage disclosed was not great, and actually at the end of the month the defend'ant’s sales balanced exactly. The police agreed with this, statement*